Christmas tree packaging means

ABSTRACT

A specially constructed Christmas tree package or bagging means for enclosing the tree after usage thereof.

United States Patent 1 1 Brimmell Aug. 7, 1973 1 CHRISTMAS TREE PACKAGING MEANS 3,1 16,774 1/1964 Callahan '150 52 R [76] Inventor: Rom hm Brimm", 2776 2,748,516 6/1956 mcclusk 47/25 x 2,111,844 3/1938 Davldson 150 52 R Blvd Mlch- 4334 1,490,283 4/1924 Loeffelholz 150/52 R l,l8l,l54 5 1916 Mitchell 150/52 R [22] 1971 2,781,811 2/1957 Dilar 150/52 R {211 App]. N6; 167,894 2,022,607 11 1935 Sorensen 206 46 PL ux 633,528 9/1899 Morris 47/2l jll 36152045170110 Primary Examiner nonald F Norton 1581 Fair a;8:521:11:331313313365086 150752 R- King Ham/:88, Michael m. 14,

206/46 PL; 47/21, 25 a] [56] Reterences Cited [571 ABSTRACT UNITED STATES PATENTS A specially constructed Christmas tree package or bag- 2 868 255 M959 Fancher 150/52 R ging means for enclosing the tree after usage thereof.

CHRISTMAS TREE PACKAGING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention broadly relates to a Christmas tree package or bagging means.

In the past it has been known that Christmas trees result in the somewhat unsightly problem of having the needles from the tree fall off either during the time that the tree is in use or at the time when it is desired to remove the tree from the residence when usage of the tree is completed, usually sometime shortly after the Christmas holiday season. Accordingly, it is a main object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above problem.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Christmas tree packaging means which is specially adaptable for connection to the bottom of the tree such that it is ready for usage at the time when the tree is to be removed from the residence, in order that the tree may be packaged to prevent undesired spreading of the needles which become dislodged from the tree.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals in different figures illustrate like elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated the present invention comprises a Christmas tree bagging means for generally enclosing the tree after usage thereof, comprising: collar type connection means for positioning a part of the bagging means around the trunk of the tree generally at the base thereof, fold means for maintaining the bagging means in a specially folded position generally near the collar type connection means at the bottom of the tree, means associated. with the bagging means operative to enable the bagging means being pulled up and fastened in a generally closed position to enclose the tree.

By the terminology specially folded as used herein, it is intended to be taken in its broadest sense to mean that the material from which the bagging is made is folded, or bunched up, or rolled up, in a proper post tion generally proximate to the base of the tree such that the bagging material is ready for usage when it is desired to enclose the tree.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a Christmas tree with the package or bagging means disposed around the bottom of the tree; I

FIG. 2 generally illustrates the same embodiment as in FIG. 1 with the bagging means being pulled up and fastened at the top to enclose the tree;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show another embodiment wherein an adjustable collar is included for connecting the packaging or bagging means to the base of the Christmas tree;

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show another embodiment of the invention which utilizes a two-piece container means to act as. a base for the tree and for holding the bagging material;

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the invention wherein a ring-like container means is used to hold the packaging or bagging material; and,

FIGS. I0 and Il illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein the bagging material is folded at the base of the "Christmas tree.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a Christmas tree designated 10 including a trunk l2 and a base 14 of the Christmas tree at the lower end of the trunk 12. Disposed around the base 14 is a collar type connection means 16 to which a packaging or bagging material 18 is connected. As shown .in FIG. 1, the bagging 18 is specially folded as illustrated by the use of radial folds designated 20 which radial folds 20 emanate outwardly from the collar l6, and the bagging 18 is connected to the collar 16 as shown in FIG. 1 by any suitable means.

FIG. 2 shows the bagging I8 pulled up from the collar 16 over the tree and fastened at the top by suitable fastcner means 22.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 wherein the collar 16 is broken at 17, 19 such that the collar can be tightened if desired around the base 14 of the trunk 12. Also shown in FIG. 4 is a plurality of fasteners 40 which may be provided to close up a lengthwise slit 4] in the bagging material 18 if it is desired to provide the bagging with the lengthwise slit 41.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate a two-piece container means designated 50 comprised of a lower container member 51 and an upper insert member 52 which fits within the container member 51 and which insert member 52 includes a sunken collar portion 116 adapted to receive and hold the base 14 of the tree. The annular space designated 54 within the container member 51 provides room for positioning of the bagging 18 within the container SI such that the bagging 18 is ready to be pulled out'and closed over the tree 10 after usage of the tree is completed.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment of the invention wherein a ring-like cardboard container 816 is used to form a collar-like member which may be positioned around the base 14 of the tree and which container 816 also contains positioned or folded therewithin sufficient quantity of the bagging material 18 to enclose the tree 10 when usage of the tree is completed. The container 816 may also include a perforated portion 82 at the top thereof which perforated portion may be broken to expose the bagging material 18 so that the bagging can be pulled out from the container 816 to enclose the tree. Positioned across the bottom of the container 816 is a material designated 84 (also suitable for the. FIGS. 1-2 embodiment and the like) which operates to close of? the: ring-like container such that needles will not escape therethrough. The close-off material 84 may also be of a loose fitting ma terial to thereby enable the ring-like container 816. being pulled up over the base 14 of the trunk 12 so that the base 14 can then be positioned within any type of suitable tripod holder or the like used for holding the Christmas tree.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the bagging material 18 folded about the base 14 of the tree with the bagging 18 being folded in a manner which includes a plurality of radial folds designated 201 and a second group of circumferential folds designated 203. As shown in FIG. 11, the bagging material 18 of this embodiment is first positioned adjacent the bottom of the tree and then wrapped around the tree as shown in FIG. 10 and fixed in a wrapped around position by use of the strings 205.

The advantages of the invention disclosed herein should be fairly apparent. Additionally, however, it should be understood that a decorative design may be added to the material 18 such that the material 18 can be used as a decorative covering beneath the tree during the Christmas holiday season, such as shown in FIG. 7 where the terms Merry Christmas and Happy New Year aredecoratively imprinted on the material 18. Also,.of course, the material 18 may be colored green, red, etc., in spirit with the holiday season, and the invention as disclosed may be put on the tree as soon as the tree goes up at the beginning of the holiday season to take advantage of the decorative design means.

it should also be understood that the material from which the bagging 18 is made may be comprised of materials selected from at least one of the group consisting of plastic, paper, or plastic coated paper. Preferably, the material is made from a polyolefin material such as polyethylene.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A Christmas tree bagging means for generally enclosing the tree after usage thereof comprising collar type connection means for positioning a part of the bagging means around the trunk of the tree generally at the base thereof, fold means. for maintaining the bagging means in a specially folded position generally near the collar type connection means at the bottom of the tree, said fold means comprising at least in part radial folds in the bagging, and means associated with the bagging means operative to enable the bagging means being pulled up and fastened in a generally closed position to enclose the tree.

2. The invention according to claim I wherein said fold means include bi-directional fold groups, one of said groups comprising said radial folds, the second group comprising circumferential folds spaced apart from each other.

3. A Christmas tree bagging means for generally enclosing the tree after usage thereof comprising collar type connection means for positioning a part of the bagging means around the trunk of the tree generally at the base thereof, said collar type connection means includingcardboard ring-like container means for positioning around the trunk and for holding at least a portion of the bagging, fold means for maintaining the bagging means in a specially folded position generally near the collar type connection meansat the bottom of the tree, means associated with the bagging means operative to enable the bagging means being pulled up andv fastened in a generally closed position to enclose the tree.

4. A Christmas tree bagging means for generally enclosing the tree after usage thereof comprising collar type connection means for positioning a part of the bagging means around the trunk of the tree generally at the base thereof, said collar type connection means including an at least two-piece container means operable to act as the base for the tree andfor holding at least a portion of the bagging, fold means for maintaining the bagging means in a specially folded position generally near the collar type connection means at the bottom of the tree, means associated with the bagging means operative to enable the bagging means being folded up and fastened in a generally closed position to enclose the tree.

5. A Christmas tree bagging means for generally enclosing the tree after usage thereof, comprising: collar type connection means for positioning a part of the bagging means around the trunk of the tree generally at the base thereof, fold means for maintaining thebagging means in a specially folded position generally near the collar type connection means at the bottom of the tree, means associated with the bagging means operative to enable the bagging means being pulled up and fastened, in a generally closed position to enclose the tree, said bagging being made of a material comprised substantially of polyethylene, and said fold means being comprised at least in part of radial folds in the bagging.

6. A Christmas tree bagging means for generally enclosing the tree after usage thereof comprising a single unitary annular sheet, said unitary annular sheet being of such radial dimensions as to be capable of enclosing the tree when pulled upwardly thereover, and a collar connected to the inner edge of said annular sheet which surrounds the trunk of the tree, said unitary'sheet being folded generally near the collar when it rests at the bottom of the tree, a fastener for securing together the top of said unitary sheet when it has been pulled upwardly over the tree, and close-off material in said collar such that needles will not escape therethroughnhe close-off material being loose fitting to enable the collar to be pulled up over the base of the tree trunk so that the base can be positioned within a tripod,

i i t i all 

1. A Christmas tree bagging means for generally enclosing the tree after usage thereof comprising collar type connection means for positioning a part of the bagging means around the trunk of the tree generally at the base thereof, fold means for maintaining the bagging means in a specially folded position generally near the collar type connection means at the bottom of the tree, said fold means comprising at least in part radial folds in the bagging, and means associated with the bagging means operative to enable the bagging means being pulled up and fastened in a generally closed position to enclose the tree.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said fold means include bi-directional fold groups, one of said groups comprising said radial folds, the second group comprising circumferential folds spaced apart from each other.
 3. A Christmas tree bagging means for generally enclosing the tree after usage thereof comprising collar type connection means for positioning a part of the bagging means around the trunk of the tree generally at the base thereof, said collar type connection means including cardboard ring-like container means for positioning around the trunk and for holding at least a portion of the bagging, fold means for maintaining the bagging means in a specially folded position generally near the collar type connection means at the bottom of the tree, means associated with the bagging means operative to enable the bagging means being pulled up and fastened in a generally closed position to enclose the tree.
 4. A Christmas tree bagging means for generally enclosing the tree after usage thereof comprising collar type connection means for positioning a part of the bagging means around the trunk of the tree generally at the base thereof, said collar type connection means including an at least two-piece container means operable to act as the base for the tree and for holding at least a portion of the bagging, fold means for maintaining the bagging means in a specially folded position generally near the collar type connection means at the bottom of the tree, means associated with the bagging means operative to enable the bagging means being folded up and fastened in a generally closed position to enclose the tree.
 5. A Christmas tree bagging means for generally enclosing the tree after usage thereof, comprising: collar type connection means for positioning a part of the bagging means around the trunk of the tree generally at the base thereof, fold means for maintaining the bagging means in a specially folded position generally near the collar type connection means at the bottom of the tree, means associated with the bagging means operative to enable the bagging means being pulled up and fastened in a generally closed position to enclose the tree, said bagging being made of a material comprised substantially of polyethylene, and said fold means being comprised at least in part of radial folds in the bagging.
 6. A Christmas tree bagging means for generally enclosing the tree after usage thereof comprising a single unitary annular sheet, said unitary annular sheet being of such radial dimensions as to be capable of enclosing the tree when pulled upwardly thereover, and a collar connected to the inner edge of said annular sheet which surrounds the trunk of the tree, said unitary sheet being folded generally near the collar when it rests at the bottom of the tree, a fastener for securing togetHer the top of said unitary sheet when it has been pulled upwardly over the tree, and close-off material in said collar such that needles will not escape therethrough, the close-off material being loose fitting to enable the collar to be pulled up over the base of the tree trunk so that the base can be positioned within a tripod. 